Design Situation

The ThreadBanger network is a landing point for people who want to create and discover their own style through alternative fashion: recycling, up-cycling and re-fashioning anything and everything with simple sewing tools and techniques. From our episodes, forum and blog, to our newsletter, contests and viewer-take-overs, ThreadBanger is a multi-media network for people who want to share their passion for DIY, fashion and crafting with each other. ThreadBanger is a place to share ideas, tips and advice and help make the world more fashionable, ThreadBanger style!

You have recently been hired to join the ThreadBanger team. Your first project is to design and create a simple furnishing item such as a cushion to enhance an area of your house. The ThreadBanger boss has asked that you look at an area in your home that is a little plain, drap or needs jazzing up and create a simple piece of soft furnishing to be made from textile materials and making use of at at least two or more fabric decoration techniques. You have been allocated a budget of $30 so you may consider using recycled materials to keep the cost to a minimum.

The company boss has asked you to keep a video of you making this furnishing item so that it can be edited and included on their video tutorial page. The video needs to show the preparation, steps of construction and final product in a maximum 3 minute funky video to encourage viewers to undertake the project themselves. (This video will be uploaded to the Production page of your wikifolio)


Design Brief

To design, produce and evaluate a simple, soft, furnishing item such as a cushion for an area of your home, the item is to be made from textiles materials and make use of at least two or more fabric decoration techniques.You also need to create a video tutorial to be included on the ThreadBanger website.

Key Words

  • Design: To plan, draw or conceive an idea in the mind.
  • Produce: To bring into existence. In this project it means to make.
  • Evaluate: To judge or determine the significance, worth, or quality of; assess: to evaluate the results of an experiment.
  • Textile: any cloth or goods produced by weaving, knitting, or felting.
  • Fabric Techniques: Different skills or methods used by the creator to make a piece of fabric look as they wish it to.
  • Video Tutorial: A video manual explaining how to use or do a project.


Limitations

  • Limitation: something that limits; a limit or bound; restriction: an arms limitation; a limitation on imports.

  1. I have been allocated a budget of $30 (maximum) so I may have to consider using recycled materials to keep the cost to a minimum.
  2. Time is a limitation on the making of our furnishing item.
  3. My video tutorial must be a maximum of 3 minutes only.
  4. My item needs to be made from textile materials and must use at least two or more fabric decoration techniques.

Criteria for Success


At the beginning of any project you must set a criteria to make sure your product/project is successful. This will be one way of evaluating whether you have satisfied the brief at the end of the project. The criteria you set needs to be clear and be able to be seen at the end of the project.
Examples of a design criteria:
  1. Needs to be completed by the deadline (make sure you include the deadline!)
  2. Must cost less than $30 to produce.
  3. My video tutorial must be easily understandable and a maximum of 3 minutes.
  4. Must be comfortable.
  5. Must be decorative.
  6. Must use two or more decorative techniques.

Factors Affecting Design
  • Funtion- Yes because you need to consider the way the user is going to use it and where they're going to put it (The way the item is used).
  • Aesthetics- Yes, because you need to have a cushion that is appealing and decortative to the user. (The looks of the item).
  • Human form- Yes, because it needs to be comfortable for the human head to rest on, the size also needs to fit. (Relating to the humans figure).
  • Scale- Yes, because it is the size of the pillow that the person needs to be using. (The size and/or weight of the item)
  • Ergonomics- No, because the environment won't effect the the way the pillow is made. (The conditions/workplace required of the worker).
  • Ethical- Yes, because we need to stick to the rules and limitations of the project. (Accepting the principles and rules to stand by).
  • Environmental- No, because the surroudings shouldn't concern the making of the cushion (The things surrounding someone).
  • Legislation- No, because enhasing laws is not relivant to creating a cushion. (the act of making or enacting laws).
  • Cost- Yes, because one of our limitations on this project is the maximum of $30 use. (the price paid to acquire, produce, or maintain anything).
  • Socio-cultural- No, because the cushion is not being placed in a area of many cultures. ( the connections of different cultures).
  • Resources availability- Yes, because we need the correct materials and information for the making of our cushion. (The vancancy of information and tools).
  • Physical and material properties- Yes, because we need the correct tools to create our cushion. (The utensils that are used to create the project).
  • Safety- Yes, because while making our cushion we will be using things like needles and sowing tools that could hurt us if not used appropriate. (To be free from any risk, injury or risk).